Chapter 43: Sudden Popularity

Ye Wenxin was quite helpless, but gave no resistance whatsoever. The two continued on their way and quickly reached the rendezvous point.

“Miss Wenxin, you’re back.”

Gu Aotian and Fatty had been waiting there for a long time, and when they saw the two girls appear, they breathed a sigh of relief. Ye Wenxin did not explain anything else. Seeing that it was getting late, she said, “Let’s go up quickly. It’s really not safe out this late.”

The others nodded and resumed walking up the mountain. Apart from encountering a demonic beast on the path, their trip went smoothly.

The Azure Wings Sect’s outer disciples were still on watch, and when they saw the group show up, the disciples just shot them a glance before ignoring them.

“Then, I’ll leave Xiangsi to you. I’ll go to the boys’ side with Fatty to rest.”

Everyone parted ways at the door and went to their corresponding dormitory.

Ye Wenxin intended to go back after sending Gu Xiangsi to her room, but Gu Xiangsi forcibly pulled her along and made her sleep in the same bed. That night, Ye Wenxin was almost asphyxiated by Gu Xiangsi.

She suddenly began to miss Ling Jue, who was far away on the Azure Wings Sect Mountain. She was so meek and gentle when she slept, while sleeping with Gu Xiangsi was simply torture for herself.

“Big Sis, I haven’t slept so soundly for a long time.” While Ye Wenxin had been suffering the whole night, Gu Xiangsi was so full of energy that she forgot about her first kill yesterday.

Looking at those pure eyes, Ye Wenxin honestly did not know how she should express her chaotic mood last night. In the end, she chose not to say anything and let Gu Xiangsi hold her as everyone arrived at the meeting place together.

The attendees stood in neat formation then began to draw numbers and fill in their names. Lastly, they had to sign a life-and-death certificate.

If one died unexpectedly during the rest of the activities, it would have nothing to do with the Azure Wings Sect. Some people have begun to be daunted upon seeing this contract, and one-third of them walked away before it even started.

Even so, it was still an absurd number of people. It was a pity that this year’s admission was only for fifty out of one thousand.

“Alright, then, I declare the recruitment assembly officially begin.” A handsome man announced as he saw everyone had signed their life-and-death certificate.

His voice was not loud, but everyone present could hear his words. With that statement, three men suddenly appeared flying on swords in the sky.

Each man looked to be in his fifties, with an air of immortality. Ye Wenxin scrutinized them and recognized them as the Hall of Discipline’s three elders.

They were responsible for the Azure Wings Sect’s discipline, but seemed somewhat overqualified to make an appearance in this kind recruitment event. However, their presence also indicated the importance the Azure Wings Sect placed on this recruitment.

Ye Wenxin was dismissive, while others were too excited to speak.

Such immortality was the dream of every cultivator.

“Amazing, flying on swords!” Gu Xiangsi, taking advantage of her taller stature compared to Ye Wenxin, leaned on her back, acting as she pleased. Those jade rabbits¹ pressed against her back, seemingly not giving Ye Wenxin any moment of relaxation.

If possible, Ye Wenxin decided to work on her height a bit, just to avoid ending up being made the little sister by Gu Xiangsi before she even had the chance to establish herself as the elder sister.

“Big Sis, it’s too amazing.”

Ye Wenxin simply chuckled.

“Big Sis, we’ll definitely get in together.”

“Don’t you want your big brother anymore?” Ye Wenxin felt something was off.

“Brother, um, Brother, you guys will definitely make it too.” Gu Xiangsi suddenly remembered Gu Aotian and Fatty, and added somewhat awkwardly.

Gu Aotian felt even more speechless, but fortunately Ye Wenxin was a woman.

If Ye Wenxin was a man, Gu Aotian would have suspect that his pure and kind sister had been seduced by Ye Wenxin.

“Brother Aotian, don’t take it to heart, Xiangsi is just too happy for a moment.” For a moment, Ye Wenxin also suspected that she was the protagonist of legend, but after giving it a brief thought, it was natural for a girl to get close to a girl, and naturally she would not think too complicatedly of Gu Xiangsi’s dependence on her.

“I got it, I got it,” Gu Aotian responded, tilting his head to look up, listening to the introductions of the rules for the first day.

“Next, we will send you to the Azure Wings Sect’s backwoods, and you must spend seven days there.” The Hall of Discipline’s Grand Elder opened his mouth to explain the purpose of this first level.

The others gasped upon hearing this, and everyone who had signed the life-and-death certificate even began to regret it.

The Azure Wings Sect’s backwoods was equivalent to a small secret realm, and naturally they would encounter many demonic beasts and various dangers within. Each of them had no cultivation base, if one was accidentally caught by a demonic beast, then that would spell their end.

It was said to be a test, in actuality it was a deadly seven-day escape journey.

No provisions were provided, nor were there any no safe zones, and the Azure Wings Sect would not interfere and provide protection

If you died, you died.

But that was the way of cultivation. One must have the resolve the face death and rely on one’s luck, courage, and wisdom, each aspect was indispensable.

Following the elders’ announcement, a group of Azure Wings Sect disciples arrived on flying swords, lined up neatly, presenting a magnificent sight. Each flying sword could carry one or two disciples, while those with flying magic items could carry at least a dozen disciples.

Of course, flying magic items were few in numbers, and there were five people with them on the scene.

“Wow, what a handsome senior brother!”

“Senior brother, can you take me?”

Ling Jue remained as popular as ever, just her appearance completely changed the atmosphere. However, Ling Jue maintained the Peerless Gentleman’s gentle demeanor, fanning herself while scanning the crowd for something.

Although Ye Wenxin did not want to attract attention anymore, it seemed that Ling Jue’s presence here was definitely for her.

“This senior brother gives off a strange vibe…” Gu Xiangsi also looked at Ling Jue, but her thoughts differed from the others.

“Strange?” Ye Wenxin recalled the first time she saw Ling Jue. After marveling at her beauty, she also felt that something was off.

But back then, Ye Wenxin had formidable cultivation, unlike Gu Xiangsi, who seemed able to sense Ling Jue’s Yin-Yang Transformation Technique.

“I don’t know, it just feels strange,” Gu Xiangsi replied, still unsure of what was different.

“Xiangsi, Miss Wenxin, hurry and find someone to take you.” Gu Aotian had already boarded a senior brother’s flying sword. Seeing that Ye Wenxin and Gu Xiangsi had not found anyone yet, he expressed some concern.

“Got it, I’ll find someone right away.” Ye Wenxin replied on Gu Xiangsi’s behalf, intending to find a senior sister’s flying sword at random. However, at a glance, she caught Long Qing’er’s gaze.

Long Qing’er smiled at her, but when she saw Gu Xiangsi behind her, she quickly looked away, seeming unwilling to be associated with Gu Xiangsi.

Even if Ye Wenxin were blind, judging from Long Qing’er’s reaction yesterday, she knew there was some connection between Long Qing’er and the Gu siblings, and this connection made Long Qing’er unwilling to have any connection with Ye Wenxin.

This was the helplessness of the royal family, and Ye Wenxin did not mind. She casually looked around, but saw that the senior sisters’ sides were already crowded.

There were far fewer female disciples in cultivation than males, and the ratio of men to women in this recruitment event was also eight to two. Senior sisters were like top-quality beef, everyone was scrambling for them.

It did not matter to Ye Wenxin, but for someone like Gu Xiangsi who had androphobia, it was troublesome.

But Ye Wenxin, young and pretty, and Gu Xiangsi, pure and innocent despite the turbulent waves within her, seeing them without a ride, Ye Wenxin now became the top-quality beef alongside Gu Xiangsi, everyone wanted a piece.

“These two ladies, if you don’t mind, I can…” In the midst of contemplation, a male disciple stepped forward.

“Ladies, why don’t you come on my flying sword instead.”

Being accompanied by beauties was naturally the ultimate goal of every male disciple.

Men were like ferocious beasts, and Gu Xiangsi trembled behind Ye Wenxin.

“Get lost.” Ye Wenxin glared at everyone, uttering the harshest words she had spoken in days.

The onlookers could hardly believe the words coming from Ye Wenxin’s mouth, but Ye Wenxin’s gaze turned cold, indicating she was not to be trifled with, and they automatically backed off.

“Two ladies, this old man can take…” The Hall of Discipline’s Grand Elder recognized Ye Wenxin, and thinking that the Azure Wings Sect’s future alchemy business would still rely on Ye Wenxin’s help, he wanted to show his face in front of Ye Wenxin more often.

Although Ye Wenxin wanted to agree, all these elders were men.

That would drive Gu Xiangsi insane!

“Thank you for your kind offer, elders, but there’s no need.” Although she did not want to refuse, there was probably only one place that would suit her.

With that, she took Gu Xiangsi and headed towards where Ling Jue was.

Ling Jue’s Mountain River Fan was a flying magic item, and the fan was quite large. Apart from Ling Jue the fake man, everyone else on it was female.

For Gu Xiangsi, this was both paradise and a very safe place.

However, no matter how large the fan was, it could only accommodate one more person.

“Xiangsi, you sit on this fan.”

“What about you? What will you do?” Gu Xiangsi did not want to be separated from Ye Wenxin, but she also did not have the courage to go elsewhere.

“I’ll find someone randomly. Oh, and if this Young Master Ling dares to do anything to you, let me know, I’ll beat her up.” Ye Wenxin looked at Ling Jue, her arrogant tone making everyone tremble in fear.

Even if one lacked discernment, they knew Ling Jue’s status here was absolutely different. Yet now, Ye Wenxin was openly provoking Ling Jue.

However, Ling Jue still smiled gently, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of this young lady.”

Despite Ye Wenxin’s harsh words, Ling Jue remained calm. The women behind her immediately praised Ling Jue for her broad-mindedness.

Ling Jue just smiled and let one of the women exchange places with Gu Xiangsi, allowing Gu Xiangsi to be surrounded by them.

No one else noticed, but Ling Jue, following Ye Wenxin’s intelligence, understood that the recruitment had already begun.

The survival test in the backwoods was actually the second round, and in this round, it would be a test of courage on flying swords.

All the protection arrays on the flying swords would be deactivated. If one lacked balance and extreme courage, it was highly likely they would fall off the flying sword.

“Miss, if you don’t mind, come to my side.” The elder invited Ye Wenxin again, but he heard curses from behind.

“This elder is shameless. Does he have some special preferences?”

“Yeah, worse than a beast.”

The Grand Elder was almost in tears. He really had no thoughts about Ye Wenxin at all.

“Thank you, Grand Elder.” Ye Wenxin agreed nonetheless. She smiled, a smile so innocent and pure, yet the Grand Elder felt like he indeed had some different thoughts.

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1. Chinese euphemism for boobs. ↩︎